It’s Miller Time

I suppose I have been going to Warren Miller movies since I was 12. Warren used to stand behind a lectern with a reading light and typed notes as his 16 mm film flickered away. We screamed our way through his movies and laughed at his famous skier crash scenes, which Warren’s son, now running the production company, isn’t into so much.

We all wore ski sweaters at his shows. Most everyone wore ski sweaters, wool ski sweaters. Over the last four years I have purchased every ski sweater I liked which makes about six. The prices range from $40 to $90. The Chinese wool sweaters don’t have the steep tariff on them like the poly blends, so they cost less. I am shocked by the fact that on a sunny day, that usually I am the only one wearing a ski sweater. Everyone is in a shell, sweating, and I am skiing in a nice warm but cool ski sweater with two layers under, not sweating. Think about it. Skiing warm with no sweat. Try a wool ski sweater this winter. They are still amazing, and you learn to preen them from snow and ice, like an otter preens its fur to keep it fluffed up, warm and dry. If you buy one, get one that is over 90% wool, thicker, and has a quarter zip.

The Miller film this year is called Playground, and I don’t have a clue what it is about. I am sure I will see lots of extreme skiers, but, hey, now we are all extreme skiers! I expect to see those spectacular clips of snowboarders and skiers skiing the steep, mountain couloirs, with a radio earphone, wirelessly guided by the guy in the helicopter who tells him when to turn. Actually, one of the skiers in last years movie said that was exactly what goes on. I really did not know that was the deal.

Tickets for the movie are going fast. I got balcony tickets, two for over $59.00, for a Seattle show. Let’s see if it’s the snow or Warren Miller that start the ski season this year.